Sign



Oct 5, 1937. E. A. DECKER 2,094,876-

SIGN Filed Aug. 1, 1935 gwucntm E/m er A. Dec/tel Straw;

Patented Get. 5, 1937 7 ,UNlT-ED STATES PATENT FFi'CE SIGN Elmer A.Decker, Dallas, Tex.

Application August 1, 1935, Serial No. 34,187 Claims. (01. 40-130) Thisinvention relates to new and useful immovements in signs One object ofthe invention is to provide an improved sign which is particularlyadapted to be mounted at the side of road or highway, wherebyadvertising indicia may be advantageously displayed.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved hollowsign which has reflector buttons mounted in its display panel, the spacewithin the sign being sufficiently large to accommodate the buttonfastenings whereby said fastenings are covered and inaccessible andtheir theft prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved signconstructed of a single frame comprising angular bars secured at theircorners and having a display panel carrying indicia secured to theiroutwardly extending flanges, and a sheet metal backing secured to thevertical flanges of said frame bars, whereby the width of the sign andspace between the display panel and backing is controlled by the widthof the outwardly directed flanges of the angular bars.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved hollow roadsign which is neat and attractive in appearance, sturdy in construction,

exceptionally cheap in manufacture, and which has reflector buttonsmounted in a display panel on its front side of the sign and which hasindicia painted on its back.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, inwhich an example of the invention is shown, and whereby;

Figure 1 is an isometric View of a sign, constructed in accordance withthe invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation,

Figure 3 is a transverse, sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Figure1,

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the frame having the display panel andbacking removed, and also showing three of the angular members of theframe disconnected from each other.

In the drawing, the numeral l0 designates a sign which may be of anydesired shape. The sign comprises an angular frame II which isconstructed of four angle bars or members l2. Each member has one endportion of its outwardly extending or horizontal flange l3 cut out at M,as clearly shown in Figure4, whereby the members.

may befltt'ed. together at their ends to form the corners of the frame.These ends may be welded, or otherwise secured together.

After the angular frame has beenformed in this way, 'a display panel 15,which may be of sheet metal or other suitable material, is then placedover the front side of the frame and its marginal edge portions l6 arebent over the'out- Wardly directed flanges it of the frame, being Weldedor otherwise fastened thereto. It is pointed out that the panel could bewelded to the outer edges of the flanges l3, thereby eliminating thenecessity of bending the marginal portions. However, the latter producesa more finished and neater appearance. The display panel may carry anysuitable indicia and reflector buttons H are mounted in the face of thepanel. The buttons may be fastened in the panel in any suitable way, butI prefer to provide each button with a threaded pin which extendsthrough an opening l8 in the panel and receives a nut l9 on its innerend.

After the buttons are in position, a metal backing or sheet 29 is placedover the back of the frame. This sheet is preferably of sheet metal andis of the same shape as the sign. The sheet is secured to the verticalflanges 2i of the frame members by bolts 22 and nuts 23, but could beotherwise secured thereto. The sign is mounted on a suitable post 24being fastened thereto by bolts 25.

From the above, it will be seen that a hollow sign is produced. Thespace 25 between the panel l5 and backing 20, of course, depends on thewidth of the flanges l3 of the frame. The space, however, is alwayssuflicient to accommodate the fastening means for the buttons. It isobvious that the fastenings are protected and theft of the buttons isprevented.

The width of the sign is reduced to a minimum and the angular framemakes for a rigidity and strength which is necessary for the sign towithstand wind, rain and exposure. The vertical flange 2| of the frameis also utilized to secure the sign to the post. As shown in Figure'2,one

of the bolts 25 passes thru the post and flange l8 while the otherpasses thru the post, panel and backing.

When it is desired to repair or replace the buttons it is only necessaryto remove the backing 20. This disassembling may be accomplished quicklyand easily. The weight of the entiresign is such that one man may easilyerect the same. It is pointed out that, if desired, indicia may bepainted or otherwise displayed, on the backing a double face sign. Asshown, the reflector buttons are mounted only in a single face, but itis pointed out that the horizontal flanges l3 could be widened so thatthe space between the panel 15 and backing 20 is increased to permitbuttons to be mounted in the backing as well as in the panel.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sign including, an upright angular frame having a forwardlydirected flange around its inner marginal portion, a display panelsecured to the outer edge of the flange of said frame, and a singlebacking sheet secured to the other side of the frame, whereby the widthof the flange spaces the panel from the backing.

2. A sign including an upright display panel, reflector buttons mountedin the panel, a frame having a forwardly directed flange, the panelhaving its marginal portion bent inwardly over the flange of said frame,and a single backing sheet carrying indicia secured to the frame member.

3. A sign including, a support, an upright display panel having itsmarginal portion bent inwardly, a frame structure having a marginalforwardly directed flange secured within and to the bent marginalportion of the panel and also having a pheripheral laterally directedflange coacting with the support and secured thereto to support saidframe structure and panel, and a single backing sheet secured to thelaterally directed flange and spaced from the display panel by theforwardly directed flange.

4. A sign including, an upright display panel, an angular frame having aforwardly directed flange, the panel having its marginal portion bentinwardly over the forwardly directed flange of said frame, and a singlebackingsheet detachably secured to the back side of the frame member,whereby the backing sheet is readily removable.

5. A sign including, an upright angular frame having a forwardlydirected flange around its inner marginal portion, a display panelsecured to the outer edge of the flange of said frame, a single backingsheet secured to the other side of the frame, whereby the width of theflange spaces the panel from the backing, and reflector buttons mountedin the display panel.

ELMER A. DECKER.

